When God Does Not Makes Sense

When God doesn’t make sense, remember His promises have not changed

In a few weeks, we’re going to get to Hebrews 13:5 which says, “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.””

That’s a pretty good sentence, isn’t it?

We hear the Lord say, “I will never leave you nor forsake you,” a number of times in a number of ways all through the Bible.

And then something catastrophic happens in our lives

And God is silent.

Have you prayed, “Lord, how could you let this happen?”

And the only answer you got was the sound of your own heart pounding in your chest?

And silence.

“Where are you, Lord? Why is this happening?”

If you’ve never prayed that prayer its probably because you aren’t old enough yet to have experienced that depth of heartache.

I know it’s a hard promise, but you will see it one day.

It will come.

Psalm 55:1–2 ESV

Give ear to my prayer, O God, and hide not yourself from my plea for mercy! Attend to me, and answer me; I am restless in my complaint and I moan,

King David - the greatest king to ever live on the face of the earth.

With more power and glory than any king that lived.

Had moments he did not understand what God was doing

And he felt like God was a million miles away.

“…hide not yourself from my plea of mercy!”

“…Answer me!”

“I am restless…and I moan.”

I think of the amount of pain and grief in our church and in our community.

While some preachers preach that God wants you to be prosperous and healthy and trouble free

And all the while your heart is being ripped to shreds.

It makes you wonder, “What’s the matter with me?”

Can you imagine preaching that message to our Jesus’ Hands children and families?

To foster kids torn from their moms and dads.

To widows and widowers who are suffering the most intense loneliness of their lives?

Preach that to the young person who yearns for a family.

Preach that to the woman whose heart hurts to have a child.

Preach that to the man who has everything he ever lived for ripped away in a moment?

“Oh God, where are you?”

“Oh God, why is this happening to me?”

Turn with me in your Bibles to Hebrews chapter 11, verses 17-19.

And if you want, put a place holder in Genesis chapter 22, verses 1 - 19.

If you’ve been in a children’s Sunday School class or Kids Worship, you’ve heard this story.

While you look it up, let’s talk to the kids right quick.

Life can get very confusing sometimes

And especially as a kid, because you can’t control anything

Life can get very scary.

We’re going to talk about what to do when life gets that way.

I want you to listen for the name “Jesus” to see how many times we mention His name

And when you hear it, see if you can understand how Jesus helps us.

Having your Bibles open to Hebrews 11:17-19 hear now the word of the Lord.

Hebrews 11:17–19 ESV

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.

This is the word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Let us pray:

Lord, because you always hear your people

You know I am one of the biggest prayers of this prayer.

So many times the things you do don’t make sense to me

Until one day they do.

But Lord, it is so hard standing in the storm.

Holy Spirit,

Please minister your peace in our hearts today.

Show us how to cling to you in our hour of need.

In Jesus’ name, Amen

Sometimes God makes no sense

Hebrews 11:17–18 “By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.””

You don’t get what he’s saying when we speed read through this.

No, every word is here for a purpose specifically designed to elicit - listen - an emotional response.

The Pastor starts with By faith - remember, how many times does he use that phrase in chapter 11?

19 times.

Remember verse 1 Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

And verse 6 Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”

Every one of those by faiths are an exposition on those two sentences.

Every “by faith” story is proof of why verses 1 and 6 are true.

Every one of the “by faiths” is the Pastor telling us, “This is what real life faith looks like.”

And in the case of Abraham and Issac, this is what real life faith looks like when God makes no sense.

Abraham was tested - we read it so glibly.

But wait - Abraham, who had moved from his home in Ur to “a nameless place I will show you.”

And did all kinds of other things that required him to trust God.

A man that each of us would say had much more faith that we do

God tested HIM.

Make that make sense.

Why would he need testing, and yet, God does.

And the way God tested him was to tell Abraham to sacrifice his son like he would sacrifice a lamb.

Stack of wood, knife, fire - just like he had seen many times.

Now, you’ve got to go, What?

The next phrase is meant to grab your heart.

It sounds kind of bland until you get the nuance of the word received

Now think, you’re a very old man - and you’ve never had a kid.

Your wife is a very old woman, way beyond the age of having a baby

She’s lived all of her life yearning for a child.

Watching other people wrestling with their families

Just ripping your heart out by gripping and complaining about nasty nosed kids when you’d give your eye teeth for just one nasty little rug rat.

With emotions boiling in you like that, “received” is not what you did.

That word has the nuance of “welcome” in it.

You didn’t receive it “Well, Sarah, God said we’re going to have a baby.”

No. No.

“Sarah, God spoke to me again - just out of no where.

“Sarah, you’re going to have a baby - we’re going to have a boy!”

You know Abraham didn’t turn to Sarah then and say, “Now, what channel was that football game on?”

You know they danced and sang and laughed.

Because the thing they wanted all of their life, they were going to have.

Listen to the language - “his only son”

Which is rendered in the KJV with a very familiar phrase - “His only begotten son.”

Jesus is everywhere in the Old Testament.

But now, not only his only begotten son, this is the son that God promised “all of the earth will blessed through him.”

How can all of the earth be blessed if Isaac is dead, and yet - Abraham offered up Isaac.

Just like that - no questions asked.

Turn with me to Genesis 22 - this is the story the Pastor is talking about.

Genesis 22:1–3 “After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.”

Notice, God called and Abraham answered.

God said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love…”

Abraham did what he was told - can you only imagine his heart?

Lord, this son we welcomed into our lives that made us so glad - Lord…

And yet, Abraham “arose and went…”

Genesis 22:4–6 “On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.” And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together.”

Now as you read this, hear the images.

What did Abraham do?

He “took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son.”

That sounds so familiar as it should.

John 19:16–17 ESV

So he delivered him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha.

The wood of the sacrifice, in Jesus’ case, the cross he was nailed to - was placed on him.

This imagery is not accidental - the Old Testament story of Abraham and Issac is a foreshadowing of the story that would happen

Get ready for this - at the exact same place!

The mountain God told Abraham to take Isaac to was Mt. Moriah.

Which is where the temple in Jerusalem was built.

Which is where Jesus was crucified right outside the city gates.

Genesis 22:7–9 “And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together. When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.”

It’s stated so clinically that we almost miss it.

Abraham “bound Isaac his son.”

Issac was much younger

He would have been stronger, faster

And yet, when it was time, Abraham’s son willingly allowed himself to be bound so he could be the sacrifice.

Philippians 2:5–8 ESV

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Isaac did it - Jesus finished it.

Genesis 22:10–14 “Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.””

You’ve sung the song “Jireh” - that’s where this come from

Jehovah Jireh - the Lord who provides

But, you know, there has to be something more, right?

The word Jireh is a form of the verb to see.

Abraham is saying a lot with that word.

Jireh - the one who sees me.

Jireh - the one who sees to my every need.

Provide sounds kind of like a Santa Clause gift.

“Here, I know you need this so here you go.”

But the Lord who sees to my every need

That means he sees me

And he knows what I’m going through.

And even though I can’t see it, I can’t feel it

Even though the entire universe is silent

Yahweh, the creator God

The deliverer of all humanity

The God who sent a Savior to ransom a rebellious people

The God who sacrificed His only begotten son and did not substitute him for a lamb

Jesus is the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

This God looks down from the expanse of heaven

And comes to Gray, Georgia

To stand invisibly beside us, to see to our every need.

Genesis 22:15–19 “And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven and said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.” So Abraham returned to his young men, and they arose and went together to Beersheba. And Abraham lived at Beersheba.”

Notice two things - one in verse 11 and one in verse 15.

It was not “an” angel of the Lord

It was “the” Angel.

From our study of Exodus, who do we know “the” Angel of the Lord is?

The Angel is Jesus.

Jesus provided the sacrifice

Until Jesus became the sacrifice.

So how is this an example of “by faith?”

Look at verse 19 Hebrews 11:19 “He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.”

God made Abraham a promise.

Remember Hebrews 6:18 “so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.”

God made Abraham a promise.

It is an unchangeable thing - It is impossible for God to lie.

By faith means that we cling to that.

Abraham knew that God had made him a promise and God cannot lie

So if God requires Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, then obviously God has some kind of miracle up His sleeve that I can’t see.

And He did.

God had Jesus, and Jesus saw to his every need.

Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”

When life is out of control, faith does not mean we believe God for a specific outcome

Because we generally don’t know what the right outcome would be for us.

But Yahweh Who sends His Spirit to be in us and with us and around us

Sees to it that the right thing does happen.

We’ve seen it over and over.

If we will reflect and be truthful, we will remember just how many times the Lord has delivered us.

If He did it once, He’ll do it again.

He cannot lie.

By faith, Abraham…

When God absolutely made no sense.

Abraham still kept his eye on the promise.

That’s what it means for us to live by faith.

When nothing makes any sense, we still believe and we still act

Knowing, God sees us and He will see to our needs.

Without fail.

Let us pray:

Communion

All of us have had hard times

But some of us have had really hard times.

Too many to list

Too sensitive to list

The hurt is so very deep that we almost feel destroyed.

And yet the Lord promises, “I will never leave you or forsake you.”

We hear that and with tears and a loud voice we scream to the Lord, “Really?”

“Where are you?”

“Why hast thou forsaken me?”

Because that’s what it feels like…

Doesn’t it?

And yet again, Jesus sees us- sitting at dinner with His disciples

Knowing what hard and horrible thing was going to happen to him

Knowing that it was going to destroy them - that they would feel forsaken for three days

He gave them something to hold on to.

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 ESV

For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

Jesus essentially said, “Brothers and sisters

“It’s going to get hard - harder than you could ever imagine.

John 16:33 ESV

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

I see you, I hear you.

I will see to it you get what you need.

Let us pray:

Would the brothers who are serving please come forward?

If you are born again believer baptized on the right side of your salvation, you are invited to join with us at the Lord’s table.

We look forward to the promise of Jesus’ coming again by coming forward to receive the bread and the juice as our profession of faith in Jesus.

We know this may be a little uncomfortable for some of you who haven’t chosen to follow Jesus yet.

We would ask you to enjoy seeing a family coming together with a single belief

And know that we are praying you will one day be a part of the family as well.

Please exit your pew to your left and come to the station closest to you.

The gluten free wafers are at __________ table.

Please come knowing that Jesus is coming again soon.